Attard Montalto made deputy chairman

Labour MEPs will this week take part in the first committee meetings in Brussels after the committees' composition and agendas were agreed upon last week.

The Labour Party said John Attard Montalto had been appointed as deputy chairman of the European Parliament's industry committee after the socialist group decided to give this post to the Maltese delegation.

Dr Attard Montalto, the party said, would be the only Maltese member to have such a post in the 20 committees of the European Parliament. Dr Attard Montalto was expected to get the appointment in the second half of the legislature.

Meanwhile, Louis Grech will be attending the budgets committee while Joseph Muscat will attend the committee on economy, monetary affairs and consumer protection. The MLP members will also have substitute members in the committees on regions, transport and tourism and that on internal markets and consumer affairs.

The socialist group chose Mr Grech to be deputy chairman of the European Parliament delegation for the Korean peninsula, while Mr Muscat will represent the group as deputy chairman in the parliament's delegation for Belorussia.